Today's Hotels Pulse
FAA says Spirit’s LaGuardia slots belong with another low‑cost carrier
The FAA Administrator argues that the coveted take‑off slots Spirit Airlines holds at New York’s LaGuardia should be reallocated to a different low‑cost carrier. Meanwhile, Spirit is preparing to auction off those slots to the highest bidder.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Airbnb leads $58M Series C in WeRoad
Thailand’s Hotel Reality Check: More Rooms, Tougher Competition
Thailand’s hotel sector is adding 43,067 rooms through 167 projects, with Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya leading the pipeline. While demand continues to recover, supply growth now exceeds demand in many periods, tightening occupancy and ADR prospects. Luxury developments such as Ritz‑Carlton Pattaya and JW Marriott further increase high‑end inventory. Operators will need sharper positioning and cost discipline to thrive in the increasingly competitive market.
West Star Aviation Expands Chattanooga Facility
West Star Aviation announced a major expansion of its Chattanooga Airport campus, increasing total space to roughly 400,000 square feet by February 2027. The project adds a 40,000‑square‑foot Hangar 26 with shop and office areas and a two‑story, 30,000‑square‑foot addition to...
Book Eurowings Through Lufthansa — You May Pay Double or Worse
Travelers and agencies are discovering that booking Eurowings flights through Lufthansa can cost up to double the price of direct Eurowings purchases, despite identical aircraft, baggage allowances, and service levels. The price gap stems from Lufthansa’s separate fare structures and...
Domino's Gained More Market Share Last Year
Domino’s reported a stronger‑than‑expected 2025, with U.S. same‑store sales climbing 3.7% and a one‑point gain in market share that lifted its pizza‑category share to 30%. The earnings beat sent the stock up about 5% in pre‑market trading. The company added...
Côte D’Azur Airports Are Key Economic Generators for Region
Nice Côte d’Azur and Cannes Mandelieu airports now generate €2.8 billion in regional GDP and support 40,800 full‑time equivalent jobs, marking a 31% and 8% rise respectively since the 2019 study. Passenger traffic grew modestly by 3%, yet the economic impact...
Travelsphere and Just You Launch Trade-Led Tree Planting Project
Travelsphere and Just You have introduced a trade‑led tree‑planting campaign that will automatically plant a tree for every new escorted tour booking made in 2026. The trees will be placed at the Maya Forest Restoration Project in Mexico or the...
Airports of Thailand Increase Passenger Departure Tax To THB 1,120 From June 20, 2026
Airports of Thailand (AOT) announced that the international passenger service charge will rise from THB 730 to THB 1,120 per departing passenger, effective June 20, 2026. The domestic charge remains at THB 130. AOT projects the hike will generate roughly...
Chicago’s Midway International Airport Enhances CX with Opening of Gameway Video Gaming Lounge
Chicago Midway International Airport has opened Gameway, a premium video‑gaming lounge featuring high‑end PCs, Xbox and PlayStation stations, high‑speed Wi‑Fi, and a full beverage bar. The lounge is part of a broader $75 million concessions investment that has added roughly 30,000 sq ft...
Today Only: Up To 4x Bonus Airline Miles On Apple Purchases
Apple shoppers can earn a limited‑time boost of 3.5‑ to 4‑times airline miles per dollar through four major airline shopping portals. The promotion runs on February 23 2026 and applies to most Apple products except flagship iPhones, Vision Pro, and several accessories. Alaska...
Cybersecurity Is the New Food Safety: How Restaurants Can Protect Their Digital Kitchens
Restaurants are evolving into digital ecosystems, relying on cloud POS, loyalty apps, and third‑party delivery platforms. This shift creates a broader attack surface, making cybersecurity as vital as food safety for protecting brand trust. Leaders are adopting defense‑in‑depth strategies, unified...
What’s Fueling Food Truck Momentum?
The U.S. food‑truck sector is projected to reach $2.8 billion by 2026, according to IBISWorld. Research by the Food Liability Insurance Program (FLIP) evaluated the 200 largest metros and ranked New York City, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami and Houston as the...
Rohde & Schwarz Advances Airport Security with Walk-Through Scanning Technology
Rohde & Schwarz has introduced the QPS Walk2000, a millimeter‑wave walk‑through scanner that uses AI and machine learning to detect both metallic and non‑metallic threats in real time. The system allows passengers and staff to walk through at a normal pace...
Hypnos Delivers Beds at Seaham Hall
Hypnos has equipped Seaham Hall, a historic Georgian country house turned coastal wellness resort, with its Signature Collection beds. The boutique hotel emphasizes sleep as a core component of its wellbeing program, aligning with the bedding maker’s focus on handcrafted...
Is Puerto Rican Superstar Bad Bunny Hiring An Entire Qantas A380 Superjumbo For the Australian Leg of His Global Tour?
Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny appears to have chartered Qantas' Airbus A380 for the Sydney leg of his Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour. The aircraft, registration VH‑OQA, flew non‑stop from São Paulo to Sydney via Auckland, carrying the artist’s entourage...
Luxury Without Limits: How to Experience the UAE the American Way
The article urges American travelers to treat the UAE like a domestic road‑trip, emphasizing that renting a car is essential to experience the region’s sprawling attractions. It highlights the UAE’s luxury‑first mindset, from five‑star hotels and high‑end brunches to premium...
Virgin Australia Velocity Bonus Status Credits January 12 – March 31, 2026 (Already Flown Included)
Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program is running a limited‑time promotion from 12 January to 31 March 2026 that awards up to 125 bonus Status Credits for flights booked and flown during the period, even if the flights have already been completed. Members...
Embraer Targets India's Regional Jet, Defense, Manufacturing Push
India’s aviation expansion is often defined by large narrowbody aircraft orders. But Embraer is strengthening its India strategy in a different segment: the 80–146 seat regional jet market while advancing defence modernisation and aerospace manufacturing localisation. The push aligns with the Government’s...
TTG Conversations: Five Questions with Fred Barou, Amadeus
The pet industry is projected to hit $500 billion globally by 2030, with pet‑related travel accounting for roughly $2‑3 billion each year. Fred Barou, senior vice‑president for customer success management, Asia‑Pacific at Amadeus, says travel operators can capture this growth by speaking...
The Peninsula Hong Kong Invites Betrothed Couples To Its Opulent Wedding Showcase
The Peninsula Hong Kong will host its annual “Forever Begins Here” wedding showcase on 1 March 2026, inviting engaged couples to explore the hotel’s luxury venues and meet its wedding planners. The day‑long, free‑admission event will feature three staged spaces—the Salisbury Room,...
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Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok Presents In Good Company
Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River is launching In Good Company, a one‑day riverside breakfast‑brunch on Saturday, February 28, 2026, from 9 am to noon. Guests will enjoy family‑style dishes crafted by Executive Chef Andrea Accordi, live DJ music,...
Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor Brings New Highlights in Its 2026 Season Reopening
Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor reopens on March 18, 2026, positioning itself as a wellness‑centric luxury retreat. The resort introduces a revamped spa featuring premium brands like Biologique Recherche and a 7‑Step Skin Journey that changes monthly. Outdoor programs...
Kempinski Hotels Observe the Holy Month of Ramadan
Kempinski Hotels is rolling out a curated series of iftar and suhoor experiences across its Middle East, Africa, and Asian properties, blending local culinary traditions with the brand’s luxury standards. Prices vary by market, from AED 199 in Dubai to...
Mt Mulligan Lodge Unveils New Spa and Wellness Experience
Mt Mulligan Lodge will launch a purpose‑built spa in March 2026, featuring a tented design that integrates the Australian outback landscape into every treatment. The centerpiece is a private, solar‑heated mineral bathing pool with temperature control from 2 °C to 38 °C. Treatments are...
Love Is Still in the Air: Say “I Do” With a Dream Destination Wedding by Elite Havens Luxury Villas
Elite Havens Luxury Villas is marketing exclusive‑use wedding villas across Bali and Phuket, positioning them as premium yet cost‑effective destination wedding venues. The portfolio includes the cliff‑top Pandawa Cliff Estate, hosting up to 50 guests, and the award‑winning Villa Amanzi...
Travel Waivers Due To Northeastern US Winter Storm February 22 – 23, 2026
A major winter storm swept the Northeastern United States and Canadian Maritimes on February 22‑23, 2026, prompting airlines to cancel more than 8,000 flights across two days. Delta, United, American, JetBlue and Air Canada each issued travel waivers that waive...
World’s Best Cities 2026: What the Ranking Means for City Brands
The World’s Best Cities 2026 ranking confirms London, Paris and New York as the top three urban brands, but it also highlights a shift toward livability and experiential quality as key differentiators. The new tripartite framework—Livability, Lovability, Prosperity—shows that cities excelling across...
Design Hotels Appoints Asia Pacific Senior Director
Design Hotels has appointed Aik Wee Ong as senior director for the Asia Pacific region, bolstering its executive team. Ong previously served as deputy managing director at a Singapore‑based design‑and‑build studio, where he led a multidisciplinary team and drove growth....
AI Training to Boost Malaysia’s Small Inbound Operators
The Consortium of Inbound Tourism Alliance (CINTA) has launched a six‑month AI‑driven training programme for small Malaysian travel operators, enrolling 600 participants. Partnering with Asnirez, Viator’s connectivity partner, and Malaysia Airlines Academy, the curriculum teaches building online platforms, booking engines,...
Meliá Brings All-Inclusive Brand to Asia
Meliá Hotels International has rebranded its former Bali property as Paradisus by Meliá, introducing the chain’s upscale all‑inclusive offering to Asia for the first time. The resort adopts the company’s Destination Inclusive concept, blending Mediterranean hospitality with local Balinese culture...
H World Group Targets Conversion Opportunities with Hanting Inn Brand
H World Group has launched Hanting Inn, an economy‑hotel brand designed for asset‑light expansion and rapid rollout in price‑sensitive markets. The brand lowers investment thresholds through simplified construction standards, modular renovation kits, and flexible location criteria. Leveraging the group’s existing network...
Nobu Hospitality to Debut Hotel and Private Island Residences in Maldives
Nobu Hospitality, in partnership with Sarat International, is launching its first Maldives property on the private island of Munyafushi in Laamu Atoll. The mixed‑use development will feature 26 beach villas, 30 overwater villas, and a collection of ten standalone Island...
Hilton Foundation Invests US$5.4m in Community and Workforce Programmes
Hilton Global Foundation announced a $5.4 million grant program supporting 18 nonprofit organizations across the Americas, Asia‑Pacific, and EMEA. The funding, the foundation’s largest annual investment, aims to create over 170,000 learning and career opportunities, provide more than 400,000 meals, and...
From Solo Seniors to Group‑Tour Gen Z: Why Every Traveller Is Racing to Europe in 2026
European tourism is experiencing a surge driven by “granfluencers”—influencers over 60—who inspire seniors to travel solo and seek adventure. Research shows seniors now spend an average €568 per trip, significantly higher than younger travelers, while Gen Z remains the highest...
Japan Joins Forces with Leading Tourist Nations Like the U.S., UK, and Australia to Raise Entry Fees and Taxes
Japan will raise tourist visa fees dramatically in April 2026, with single‑entry visas climbing from ¥2,000 to ¥15,000 and multiple‑entry visas to ¥30,000. The government also plans to increase the $7 departure tax and expand hotel taxes in Tokyo and...
Washington D.C. Revolutionizes Air Traffic Control with Digital Flight Strips at Reagan National Airport
Washington D.C.’s Ronald Reagan National Airport has replaced its paper Flight Progress Strips with a digital ground‑control system supplied by Leidos. The upgrade is part of the FAA’s $12.5 billion National Airspace System modernization program and brings the United States in...
“GT” Insight Bites: Is a Tourism Career a Ticket or a Trap?
The latest “GT” Insight Bites explores whether a career in travel and tourism is a gateway to the world or a professional dead‑end. Four contributors from Canada and Southeast Asia share candid advice for newcomers, highlighting both the allure of...
Chubu Steps Forward
The Chubu region leveraged its successful 2025 Tourism Expo to capture a larger share of Japan’s inbound tourism, which reached 35.5 million visitors in the first ten months of 2025. New attractions such as the Toilet Museum, culinary tours, and ecotourism...
Why Coach Is Going All in on Hospitality
Coach has launched a 56‑seat modern steakhouse, The Coach Restaurant, inside Jewel Changi Airport, leveraging the venue’s iconic Rain Vortex backdrop. The restaurant weaves Coach’s heritage—leather‑trimmed menus, bronze mirrors, a suspended yellow taxi—into a full‑service dining experience that complements its...
Ferraro’s Ristorante to Host Vallepicciola Toscana Wine Dinner on March 7
Ferraro’s Ristorante will host an intimate Vallepicciola Toscana wine dinner on March 7, 2026, limited to 40 guests. The event features a curated tasting of four estate wines, each paired with chef‑crafted Tuscan dishes, and includes winemaker Alessandro Cellai as...
North Atlantic Aviation: Forward Bookings and Fares Are Down for Peak Summer 2026
Forward bookings and average fares for July 2026 transatlantic flights are down, signalling a softer peak summer than 2025. Visitor numbers from Western Europe to the United States remained below pre‑pandemic levels, with seven of the ten largest origin markets...
OVERNIGHT STAY TAX COULD WEAKEN UK TOURISM COMPETITIVENESS
The World Travel & Tourism Council warns that England’s new overnight stay tax could slow tourism recovery, reduce visitor spending and jeopardise jobs. The proposal lets local authorities levy £2‑£10 per person or a percentage of room rates on hotels,...
BERLIN RECORDED FEWER OVERNIGHT STAYS IN 2025
Berlin recorded 29.4 million overnight stays in 2025, down from 30.6 million in 2024 and below the 2019 pre‑pandemic peak of 34 million. Domestic visitors contributed 58.9% of stays, while the top international markets each fell year‑on‑year. Visit Berlin’s CEO highlighted the city’s top‑five...
Airlines Rush to Cancel Flights to Puerto Vallarta After Coordinated City-Wide Cartel Attack
The CJNG cartel launched coordinated attacks in Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, setting fires, targeting vehicles and security checkpoints, and allegedly storming Guadalajara International Airport. U.S. officials issued an urgent shelter‑in‑place alert for American citizens, prompting major carriers such as Air...
Perkin’ Up – My Airline Elite Status Strategy with the Domestic Big Three
Benjy Harmon outlines his elite‑status playbook for the three U.S. legacy carriers. He maintains American Airlines Executive Platinum each year through Loyalty Points, while abandoning United’s traditional status in favor of a credit‑card‑fed Travel Bank that funds first‑class and Polaris...
How To Stretch Your Miles on Intra-Japan and Japan-Korea Flights
Travelers can fly intra‑Japan for as few as 6,000–7,500 miles, with Japan Airlines offering 7,500 American AAdvantage miles and zero taxes, while ANA’s Tokyo‑Osaka segment costs 6,000 United miles plus a modest fee. Japan‑Korea routes start at roughly 7,000 miles...
Dodo4Kids Takes Center Stage at Exclusive Pre-ITB Berlin Dinner — Limited Seats Available
SUNx Malta, the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT) and the World Tourism Network (WTN) have launched a global partnership to roll out the Dodo4Kids early‑learning program across more than 450 Peace Parks. The initiative blends climate education, sustainability...
The Airline That Barely Flies — Yet Appears Everywhere
Euroairlines, despite owning only one aircraft, has become a major global airline brand by acting as a ticket‑validating carrier for dozens of unrelated airlines. The company’s IATA licence allows it to place its code in booking systems, creating a “shadow...
AI Rental Car Scans Produce Questionable Reports, Real Bills
Rental car giants Hertz and Sixt have deployed AI‑powered inspection tunnels that automatically photograph vehicles at return and generate damage claims. Hertz’s partnership with UVeye aims to cover 100 U.S. airport locations, while Sixt uses ProovStation with a human‑review step....
Sustainable Recruitment
Managing director Kully Sandhu warns aviation must rebuild career confidence after pandemic‑induced layoffs. Candidate hesitancy, especially for entry‑level and shift roles, stems from unpredictable schedules, lengthy security clearances, and limited commuting options. Sandhu proposes sustainable recruitment: streamlined hiring, flexible rosters,...
Connecting The Dots: How United Airlines Is Terminating Flight Attendants For Sick Leave Abuse
United Airlines is deploying analytics tools to identify flight attendants it believes are abusing sick‑leave, and the resulting terminations have become the airline's leading cause for dismissals. Managers examine digital footprints such as denied time‑off requests, swap attempts, and social‑media...